Inverted pump



Oct. 13, 1942.- c. A. ERICKSON 2,298,756

INVERTED PUMP Filed May 22, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 13, 1942; c. A. ERICK SON 2,298,756

INYERTED PUMP Fild May 22, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 Kai,

Patented Oct. .13, 1942 INVERTED PUMP Charles A. Erickson, cues, m., asoignor to United Specialties Company, Chicago, 111., a

corporation of Delaware Application May 22, 1941, Serial No. 394,579

9 Claims.

' This invention relates to a pump, and in the particular form here shown the invention is embodied in a mechanism suitable for use as a fuel pumpfor. internal combustion engines. The invention is, of course, not limited tothis particular purpose. One object is to provide a pump in which the various parts which make up-the total assembly are arranged to occupy a minimum of space. Another object is to provide a pump which may be assembled with a minimum of expense. Another object is to provide a pump in which the actual pump driving means are simplified, and in which, therefore, the expense of this part of the assembly is reduced and the simplicity of assembly-and maintenance is correspondingly reduced.

Other objects will appear from time to time throughout the specification and claims.

This invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the pump;

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section taken on an enlarged scale at line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section taken at line 3-2 of Figure 1.

Like parts are indicated by like characters throughout the specification and the drawings.

The pump comprises a housing which is preferably made in at least two main parts: the main housing member I and a cover or enclosing member 2. The main housing member is provided with a downward and preferably interiorly threaded section 2 to which a container 4 is removably attached. This container is preferably threaded as at I about its upper portion to engage the threading in the member 3, and a gasket 6" may be positioned between the upper edge of the container 4 and the portion of the housing member I against which the container abuts. -A discharge passage I is formed in the member I and may be threaded adjacent its lowerend as at I to receive the frame portion 9 of a filter I0. Any desirable type filter may be used, and the invention is not ited to the one shown herewith. The detaiisQof thefllter shown form no essential part of the invention, and when a filter is used with'the invention it is suflicient that it be suitable for use as a fllter in connection with the liquid which is being handled by the pump.

Movably mounted in th member 8 is a valve I II seating upon a removable valve seat member II, which preferably seats within the open upper end of the member I. A spring Ilholds the valve on its seat when free to do so, and may yield to permit opening of the valve. A spring is positioned about a tubular member it which may be formed integrally with the housing member if desired. The member I4 is notched agent IE to insure passage of liquid even if the valve II is raised sufflciently to contact the lower end of the member l4. Fluid flowing from the container 4 through the member I4 enters the pumping chamber II which is formed in part by the housing I and in part by a diaphragm. which will be described below. The housing is provided with an outlet passage Il whichis in communication with the pumping chamber it through a perforation threaded as at I8. A valve seat member I9 may be seated in the perforation and in engagement with the threads I8. A valve 20 is adapted to be seated on the member II and to be held closed by a spring 2| which may be positioned about a projection 22, preferably formed integrally with the housing I and extending into the passage II. The passage ll may receive a pipe or conduit 23 through which fluid is discharged to a point of use; for example, an internal combustion engine. If desired, a passage 24 may be formed in communication with the passage I1,

and a pressure dome 25 may be seated in the passage. The details of the pressure dome form no essential part of the presentinvention, and

are neither described nor illustrated herein. Almost desirable type of pressure dome may be used,'or for present purposes it may be omitted entirely. e

.-.The housing member I has preferably integr'ally with it a peripheral flange 26. .A diaphragm 21 is positioned against the flange and is held in place on the flange by screws 28 which pass through the flange 26 and through members 29 formed on the cover portion 2 of the housing. The diaphragm 21 with the housing member -I completes the pump chamber IE.

on its lower surface the diaphragm has secured foil; a platelike member 30 from which a preferably hollow projection 3| extends into a depression 22 formed in the housing member I. The projection ii is a guide which prevents canting or twisting of the diaphragm as it moves, and it may flt so loosely in the cavity 12 as normally to be out of contact with the walls of the cavity.

On ,its upper surface the diaphragmhas setion of any desired form is fastened, preferably loosely. In the particular form here shown, the connection is a double hook 39 having a lower hooklike portion 31 and an upper hooklike portion 38. As shown, the end of each hook is open for ready assembly, and the hook portion 31 and eye 35 are preferably of such size that they fit together with some looseness or play. The hook member 38 is secured about the end 39 of a lever 40 upon which a projection 4! may be formed. A spring 42 is positioned preferably about the projection 4|. The lever is rounded as at 43 to fit upon a fulcrum member 44, and an end 45 of the lever projects outwardly. and is adapted to contact a cam or eccentric 46 on a shaft 41 which is rotated by any desirable means. Frequently,

it will be rotated by the cam shaft of an internal combustion engine to which the pump is arranged to supply fuel. The fulcrum member, as shown, comprises a rounded portion and a penetrating or fastening portion 48 whichcomprises an elongated member as shown in Figure 3, from which one or more spring ears 49 have been struck up. The member 43 is inserted into a cavity 50 in the housing section 2, and the spring ears 49 engage the inner face of the cavity 50 and hold the fulcrum member in place.

Formed on the housing member 2 and preferably integrally with it is a lever compartment 5|. As shown, the lever, the fulcrum member and the spring 42 are positioned within this compartment, and the spring 42 bears at one end upon an inner wall of this cavity. About the inner end of the cavity 5| is formed an inwardly projecting section 52. A spring 53 is positioned about the hook member 35, its lower end rests upon the diaphragm 21 or upon the plate 33, and its upper end rest upon the inner wall of the housing 2 or upon a filter retaining ring 54 in case one is provided. As shown, the ring 54 has a flange contacting the inner face of the upper end of the housing 2, and a second outwardly projecting flange 55. A quantity of filtering material 55 is positioned about the ring forated as at it, it for ready attachment to an engine or to any suitable part of engine. By this means the .pump is given a suitable base andthe lever 40, 45 is mounted in suitable position with relation to the cam 45 so that the pump is operated by the cam in response" to rotation of the shaft 41.

Although there is shown an operative form of the device, it will be understood that many changes in the form, shape and arrangement of parts might be made without departing from the spirit of this invention, and it is wished that the showing be taken as, in a sense, diagrammatic. In particular, the various parts of the assembly and especially the housing members may be made of avariety of materials. They may be of metal or plastic material, and they may be formed in any desired manner by moldand between it and the inner face of the houshousing section 2, and through them air may move into and out of the space 58 enclosed within the housing section 2 and above the diaphragm 21. It is generally advisable to provide means for the relatively free passage of air into and out of this space, and it is also generally advisable, where such means are provided, to add means for filtering the air to prevent the accumulation of foreign matter in the pump.

While many types of connections may be provided for supplying fuel or liquid to the container 4, the one shown comprise a passage 59 formed in the housing section I and directed to the interior of the container 4. A connection and preferably integral therewith. It is pering, die casting, machining or otherwise. The invention is, therefore, not limited to the use of any particular material or of any particular method of forming the various parts. For some purposes, it will be preferable to form the housing members of plastic material.

Fuel pumps, when used for automotive vehicles, are generally placed close to the engine or other hot parts of the mechanism and are, therefore, constantly subject to a relatively high degree of heat. The result of this is that occasionally vaporization of the fuel occurs within the pump and this, when it does occur, causes unsatisfactory operation and may result in vapor lock or other unsatisfaqtory operating conditions.

An important advantage which results when plastic material is used for that part of the pump asembly which the fuel contacts is a reduction in heat transmission. Plastics of the type suitable for use in connection with pumps are poor conductors of heat. Hence they greatly reduce the amount of heat which is conducted to the fuel as it passes through the pump and, therefore, they reduce the tendency toward vaporization and the use of plastics thus insures better and more uniform pump operation even under the most extreme conditions of heated operation.

This advantage may be accomplished without making the entire pump of plastic material. It is generally sufllcient to make only those parts of the pump of plastics with which the fuel comes in direct contact.

The use and operation of this invention are as follows: Assuming the apparatus herewith shown to be attached to an engine, it can also be attached Y to a supply of fuel and to a carburetor or fuel injection means. The ,fuel supply being full and the engine started, the cam 46 will rotate and the lever 49, 45 will move up and down. As the hook portion 39 of the lever rises to the position shown in Figures 2 and 3, the diaphragm is raised, suction is created within the chamber IS, the valve II is unseated, and liquid is drawn from the container 4 into the chamber l5. As

the cam continues to rotate, the lever is allowed to return to the down" position, and the spring ii is free to expand, carrying the diaphragm downward from the position of Figures 2 and 3. As the diaphragm is moved downwardly, it accomplishes a compression stroke, the valve Ii is seated, the valve 20 is unseated, fluid is discharged from the chamber Ii and moves outwardly through the passage I1 and the conduit 23, This cycle of movements is repeated.

When pressure conditions are such that the diaphragm 21 is held in the upper position or is prevented from moving to the full lower position, the lever I0, 45 still makes its full movement.

The play or looseness' which exists between the It is recognized that under certain conditions the diaphragm makes a full "up and down" movement with each stroke and that under other condition may be, however, the looseness in the hook members permits a full and constant movement of the lever. and this constant lever movement is thus automatically adapted to a varying or fluctuating diaphragm movement.

I claim:

1. In combination in a pump, a housing, a pumping element positioned therein, means for moving said pumping element, said means including a spring biased to move said pumping element in one direction, when free to do so, and means for moving said pumping element in the opposite direction, said last mentioned means including a lever arm, and a rigid unitary s-shaped connection member joining said lever arm and said pumping element, and comprising the sole connection therebetween, said connection shaped to provide substantial clearance between it and the lever arm and between it and the pumping element.

2. In combination in a pump, a housing, a pumping element positioned therein, means for moving said pumping element, said means including a spring biased to move said pumping element in one direction, when free to do so, and

means for moving said pumping element in the opposite direction, said last mentioned means including a lever arm, and a single substantially rigid unitary connection member joining said lever arm and said pumping element, and comprising the sole connection therebetween, said connection shaped to provide substantial clearance between it and the lever arm and between it and the pumping element.

3. In combination in a pump, a housing, a pumping element..positioned therein, means for moving said pumping element, said means including a spring biased to move said pumping element in one direction, when free to do so, and

means for moving said pumping element in the connection being oi such size and shape as to provide substantial clearance between it and the lever arm and between it and the pumping element, substantially in excess of the clearance required for mere assembly of the parts.

4. In combination in a pump, a housing, a pumping element comprising a flexible diaphragm positioned therein, means-ior moving said diaphragm, said means including a spring biased to move said diaphragm in one direction, when free to do so, and means for moving said diaphragm in the opposite direction, said last mentioned means including a lever arm, and a single substantially rigid connection member joining said lever arm and said diaphragm, and comprising the sole connection therebetween, said connection being ot'such size and shape as to provide clearance between it and the lever arm and between it and the diaphragm, substantially in excess of tlgelearance required for mere assembly of the p 5. In combination in a pump, an upper housing member, and a lower housing member removably secured thereto, a flexible diaphragm positioned betweenthe two housing members and forming with the lower housing member a pump chamber, a spring positioned above said diaphragm and tending, when free to do so, to force the diaphragm downwardly, and means for raising the diaphragm, said means including a lever arm positioned partly within the upper housing and extending partly outside 01' said housing, and a single freely movable rigid, unitary link member loosely connecting said lever with said diaphragm, a connection member secured to said diaphragm andengaging said link loosely to provide substantial play between the two, said play being in excess of that required for assembly of the parts, the lower housing shaped, to provide inlet and outlet es to said pump chamher, said lower housing shaped to provide an outlet passage on the downstream side oi said outlet valve.

8. In combination in a pump, an upper housing member, and a lower housing member removably secured thereto, a flexible diaphragm positioned between the two housing members and forming with the lower housing member a pump chamber, a spring positioned above said diaphragm and tending, when free to do so, to force the diaphragm downwardly, and means for raising the diaphragm, said means including a lever arm positioned partly within the upper housing and extending partly outside of said housing, and a single substantially rigid ireely movable rigid, unitary link member loosely connecting said lever with said diaphragm, a connection member secured to said diaphragm and engaging said link loosely to provide substantial play between the two, said play being in excess of that required for assembly of the parts, the lower housing shaped to provide inlet and outlet passages to said pump chamber, said lower housing shaped to provide an outlet e on the downstream side or said outlet valve.

7. In combination in a pump and means for operating it, an upper housing member, and a lower housing member removably secured thereto, a flexible diaphragm positioned between the two housing members and forming with the lower housing member a pump chamber, a spring positioned above said diaphragm and tending, when free to do so, to force the diaphragm downwardly, and means for raising the diaphragm, said means including a lever arm positioned partly within the upper housing and extending partly outside 01' said-housing, and a link member connecting said lever with said diaphra m. a connection member secured to said diaphragm and engaging said link loosely to provide substantial play between the two, and a fulcrum member for said lever, the lever resting loosely upon said fulcrum and being free from attachment thereto, said pump operating means including a cam in contact with one end of said lever, and a second spring out of line with said fulcrum and on the opposite side from said cam, and positioned within said upper housing and biased to hold said lever in contact with said fulcrum, and to hold one end of said lever in contact with said cam, the lower housing shaped to provide inlet and outlet passages to said pump chamber, said lower housing shaped to provide an outlet passage on the downstream side of said outlet valve;

8. In combination in a pump and means for operating it, an upper housing member, and a lower housing member removably secured thereto, a flexible diaphragm positioned between the two housing members and forming with the lower housing member a pump chamber, a spring positioned above said diaphragm and tending, when free to do so, to force the diaphragm downwardly, and means for raising the diaphragm, said means including a lever arm positioned partly within the upper housing and extending partly outside of said housing, and a link member connecting said lever with said diaphragm-a connection member secured to said diaphragm and engaging said link loosely to provide substantial play between the two, and a fulcrum member for said lever, the lever resting loosely upon said fulcrum and being free from attachment thereto, saidpump operating means including a cam in contact with one end of said lever, and a second spring out of line with said fulcrum and on the opposite side from said cam, and positioned within said upper housing and biased to hold said lever in contact with said fulcrum, and to hold one end of said lever in contact with said cam, one end of said spring bearing upon said lever and the other betweenthe two housing members and forming with the lower housing member a pump chamber, a spring positioned above said diaphragm and'tending. when free to do so, to force the diaphragm downwardly, and means for raising the diaphragm, said means including a lever arm positioned partly within the upper housing and extending partly outside of said housing, and a link member connecting said lever with said diaphragm, a connection member secured to said diaphragm and engaging said link loosely to provide substantial play between the two, the lower housing shaped to provide inlet and outletpassages to saidpump chamber, and shaped also in addition thereto, toprovide a guiding passage, a

rigid imperforate member secured to said diaphragm and adapted to move into and out of said guiding passage, said lower housing shaped to provide an outlet passage on the downstream side of said outlet valve.

CHARLES A. ERICKSON. 

